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Sirius XM shareholders OK reverse stock split -- it's not going to help

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Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) shareholders approved two proposals: The first, to issue up to 3.5 million more shares, increasing the number of common stock from 4.5 million to 8 million. The second, to enact a reverse stock split by a ratio of not less than one-for-ten and not more than one-for-fifty.

Sirius faces delisting from the Nasdaq as its stock has traded below $1 since September 19. It was given a grace period until the end of January. With the reverse stock split, the satellite radio company will try to spruce up its battered stock price, avoid delisting and also pay down debt.

I doubt this will help. The problems at Sirius are great and have been exacerbated by the current economic slowdown and an auto industry in shambles. The 13.5 cent stock price reflects investor concerns. Sirius is unprofitable and has a large debt load of $1 billion, due in part in February. It also didn't have positive cash-flow for a full-year to date, but predicts breakeven cash flow in 2009, and positive cash flow in 2010.


Sirius will cut its work force by 22% by year end to further cut costs, and now projects a smaller loss than previously anticipated. CEO Mel Karmazin insists that the merger with XM helped with cost controls and he expects profitability in the years ahead. He said that "what's going on is not operationally problematic."

Perhaps Karmazin is right, but I have my concerns, including how much a reverse stock split would help. Many companies have tried that, but usually, when share prices get this low, it's indicative of real and serious problems. Not in the very distant past, Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) experienced similar problems and pulled a similar stunt, with a 1-for-10 reverse stock split. Guess what? Without dealing properly with its fundamental issues, NT shares are even lower today than they were before the split and there has been talk of bankruptcy and even another reverse stock split as it received another notice from the NYSE.

Sirius is dealing with severe problems too, not the least is declining consumer demand stemming from both the economic situation and increased competition from the likes of MP3s. I doubt this move would help, but as a subscriber, I hope it does.

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Last updated: November 10, 2009: 06:34 AM

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